As for the historical inspirations I drew on in writing The Snow Queen, I suppose I would call them more cross-cultural inspirations, though they frequently involve past societies as well as present day ones.

Here was a fragment of Goddess myth that, through all its permutations, had somehow escaped being turned on its head. It was the perfect springboard for the sort of novel I wanted to write.

Fear of the unknown is a terrible fear.

The contradictions are what make human behavior so maddening and yet so fascinating, all at the same time.

What does immortality mean to me? That we all want more time; and we want it to be quality time.

Studying anthropology, I developed a kind of holistic view of human existence, in which the dichotomies you listed are all necessary and vital aspects of life.

Don't worry. You're safe now. You've got nothing left to steal.